Duke  University  Libraries 


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ESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT, 

Richmond,  Va.,  Jan.  30,  1863. 

To  the  House  of  Representatives  : 

I  herewith  transmit,  for  your  information,  a  commmunication  from 
the  Secretary  of  War,  forwarding  copies  of  "orders  of  impressment," 
in  reply  to  your  resolution  of  the  15th  inst. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


COMMUNICxlTION  FROM  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 


Confederate  States  of  America, 
War  Department 
Richmond  Va.,  Jan.  28,  1863 


63.) 


His  Excellency,  The  President  : 

Sir  :  In  response  to  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
adopted  on  the  loth  instant,  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  the  "orders 
of  impressment,  together  with  the  instructions  and  regulations  under 
the  same,  recently  issued  by  the  War  Department  or  any  bureau 
thereof." 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 


1st.  The  Quartermaster  General  is  authorized  to  impress  army  sup- 
plies, labor  and  transportation  (except  that  belonging  to  railroad  com- 
panies and  government  contractors,)  when  he  shall  think  it  necessary 
to  the  public  service. 


2d.  This  power  may  be  conferred  by  the  Quartermaster  General 
upon  purchasing  officers  and  agents  of  his  department ;  which  officers 
may  in  turn  confer  similar  powers  upon  such  subordinjja^as  the 
Quartermaster  General  shall  approve.  M       J 

3d.  All  army  supplies,  labor  and  transportation  imprM  Kill  be 
paid  for  at  reasonables  price  not  exceeding  in  any  case,  rM^^dered 
from  time  to  time  by.  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  communiHHd  to  the 
Quartermaster  General ;  and  officers  and  agents  are  speciaW  Btructed 
to  give  to  the  owners  thereof  receipts,  stating  distinctly  ^^descrip- 
tion, quality,  Quantity  and  price  of  the  army  supplies,  or  the  kind, 
rate  of  hire  and  time  employed  of  the  labor  and  transportation  im- 
pressed ;  and  designating  the  officer  by  wh  )m  payment  for  the  same 
Ivill  be  made,  who,  in  case  he  has  no  funds  on  hand,  shall  give  a  cer- 
tificate, which  will  enable  the  party  to  obtain  payment  from  the  nearest 
disbursing  officer  of  the  department  of  the  Quartermaster  General. 

4th.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  officer  or  agent  impressing  as  afore- 
said, to  leave  to  each  person,  whose  property  is  impressd,  a  sufficiency 
of  supplies  for  the  use  of  his  family  and  plantation,  and  in  impres- 
sing, to  take,  in  preference,  army  supplies  owned  by  speculators. 

5th.  The  officer  or  agent  impressing  shall,  in  all  cases,  exhibit  his 
written  authority  to  impress,  to  the  party  or  parties  interested,  or  to 
his  or  their  agent ;  and  no  impressment  shall  be  made,  (unless  author- 
ized by  the  Secretary  of  War,  or  under  necessity,  ordered  by  generals 
commanding  armies  in  the  field,)  except  by  officers  and  agents  author- 
ized as  above,  and  by  them  only  in  conformity  to  orders  ;  and  any  one 
acting  without  or  beyond  authority  in  the  above,  will  be  held  strictly 
responsible. 

6th.  The  Quartermaster  General  shall  see  that  a  minute  and  accu- 
rate return  of  all  impressments  as  come  within  the  range  of  his  de- 
partment, be  made  to  his  office  monthly,  and  a  record  thereof  be 
kept. 

.         (Signed) 

JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War, 

December  26th,  1862. 
Official. 

Q.  M.  General's    Office, 
Richmond,  Dec.  29th,  1862. 


Late*. — The  instruction  was  given  orally  to  both  the  Quartermas- 
ter General  and  the  Commissary  General  that  their  officers  should  be 
authorized  in  all  cases  to  express,  whenever  desired  by  the  parties,  in 
the  receipts  taken  from  them,  that  they  were  not  meant  to  be  precluded 
from  further  demands  on  the  government  for  additional  compensation, 
should  Congress  allow  it. 

JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 
War  Department, 

Jan.  28,  1863. 


■v 

31-  froi 


Confederate  States  of  America,  ) 

Quartermaster  GeneraVs  Office,      \ 

Richmond,  Jan.  27,  1863.  S 

Sir  ;flRave  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  reference  to  this  office  of 
&  letter^pm  the  President,  containing  a  copy  of  a  resolution  of  the 
House  ofj^epresentatives  calling  for  the  General  Orders  and  regula- 
tions in  Aard  to  impressments  of  private  property,  recently  issued 
from  the  War  Department  or  any  bureau  thereof. 

In  reply,  I  respectfully  enclose  printed  copies  of  the  regulations 
prescribed  by  the  Secretary  of  War  and  of  the  schedules  of  prices 
established  by  him,  with  the  remark  that,  in  all  instances,  when  the 
power  of  impressment  has  been  conferred,  the  strictest  observance  of 
these  regulations  and  schedules  has  been  enjoined. 

I  beg  leave  to  add  that  no  impressments  are  authorized  by  me, 
except  under  the  authority  thus  conferred. 
I  am,  sir, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  C.  MYERS, 
Quartermaster  General. 
Hon.  James  A.  Seddon, 

Secretary  of  War. 


SCHEDULE    A. 


Long  forage, 


Corn, 
11 


Mill  offal, 


Cleaned  oats 


Good, 


Prime, 


Good, 


Timothy  hay, 

tt  <( 

Sheaf  oats, 

U  (l 

Fodder, 
tt 

Clover  hay, 
tt        a 

Shucks, 
tt 

Straw, 


Per   cwt. 


Bran, 
Shorts, 
Brown  stuff, 
Ship  stuff, 


Per  56  lbs. 


Per  17  lbs. 
Per  22  lbs. 
Per  28  lbs. 
Per  37  lbs. 
Per  32  lbs. 


r    -1- 


o   a    * 


;  > 


Unbaled, 

Baled, 

Unbaled, 

Baled, 

Unbaled, 

Baled, 

Unbaleil, 

Baled, 

Unbaled, 

Baled, 

Unbaled, 

Baled, ' 

Un  shelled, 

Shelled  and  bagged 
in  sacks  furnished 
by  the  Government, 


$1  10 


1  10 


]   10 


1  10 


100  $2  20 

2  50 

2  20 


62i 


85 

16 

127 

22 

127 

30 

127 

45 

127 

40 

3  CO 

2  00 
36} 
50 
68* 
1  02* 
1  60 


Note. — The  above  are  the  maximum  prices  to  be  paid  for  the  above  articles  at  all  cities  and 
usual  places  of  sale ;  and  when  bought  or  impressed  elsewhere,  the  same  prices  are  to  be  paid 
elsewhere,  less  the  cost  of  transportation  to  the  city  or  usual  place  of  sale,  to  which  the  article 
would  go  ordinarily  for  sale  from  that  neighborhood,  or  less  the  cost  of  transportation  to  the 
point  at  which  the  government  needs  the  article,  and  wishes  it  to  be  sent:  provided,  that  in  no 
ease  the  amount  deducted  for  trausportation  as  above,  shall  exceed  twenty-five  cents  per  bushel 
for  corn,  and  twenty-five  cents  per  cwt.  for  long  forage. 

This  list  of  prices  approved  as  maximum  rates,  to  guide  impressments  when  nocessary,  and 
to  accompany  an  authority  given  the  Quartermaster  General.  In  cases  of  purchases  or  con- 
tracts to  purchase,  they  are  not  to  be  exceeded. 

(Signed,)  J.  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 
December  26,  1862. 


SCHEDULE    B. 


LABOR  AND  TRANSPORTATION. 


*LABOR  AND   TRANSPORTATION. 


>>* 


a  a 


Z&2 


OCQ 
O    O 


Ph 


3^ 


Baling  long  forago 

Shelling  and  bagging  corn,  sacks  furnished 

by  the  government 

Hauling v 

Hauling  grain 

Hire  of  two  horse  team,  wagon  and  driver, 

rations  furnished  by  owner 

Hire  of  same,   rations   furnished   by   the 

government 

Hir#  of  four  horse  team,  wagon  and  driver, 

rations  furnished  by  owner 

Hire  of  same,    rations   furnished   by    the 

government 

Hire  of  six  horse  team,  wagon  and  driver, 

rations  furnished  by  owner 

Hire  of   same,    rations   furnished   by    the 

government 

Hire  of  laborer,  rations  furnished  by  owner 
Hire  of  same,    rations   furnished   by    the 

government 

Hire   of  same,    rations   furnished   by   the 

owner 

Hire  of  same,   rations   furnished   by   the 

government 

River  transportation  by  batteaux, 


PrlOOlbs 

Pr  56'  lbs 
Pr  cwt. 
Pr  bush. 


per  mile, 


per  day, 


$4  00 


5  00 


per  month 


pr.  cwt. 


grain. 


pr.  bush, 


for  20  miles  and 

under, 
over  20  and  un 

der  30  miles, 
30  miles  and  un- 
der 50  miles, 
50    miles    and 

over, 
for  20  miles  and 

under, 
over  20  and  un 

der  30  miles, 
30  and  under  50 

miles, 
50    miles    and 

over, 


Canal  transportation  between  Lynchburg 
and  Richmond,  and  intermediate  points. 

Same  between  above  points,  for  grain 

Same  from  Buchanan  and  Lexington  and 
other  points  above  Lynchb'g  to  Richm'd 

Same  between  above  points,  for  grain 

Same  between  Buchanan  and  Lexington, 
and  Lynchburg  and  intermediate  points. 

Same  between  above  points,  for  grain 

Transportation  by  batteaux  on  tributaries 
of  James  River,  from  highest  point  of 
navigation  on  same,  and  all  intermediate 
points  to  James  River  and  Kanawha 
Canal 


pr.  cwt. 
pr.  bush. 

pr.  cwt. 
pr.  bush. 

pr.  cwt. 
pr.  bush. 


pr.  cwt. 


$    30 

05 
04 
02 

5  00 

3  00 
8  00 

4  00 
10  00 

4  25 

1  50 

1  00 

30  00 

20  00 

2» 

35 

45 

50 

11 

16 

20 

23 

25 
10 

35 
16 

10 
06 


25 


SCHEDULE    B— Continued. 
LABOR  AND  TRANSPORTATION. 


b       1 

o  o 

M   O 

t 

«    IK 

cm  a  u 

# 

S  2 

9   ■    3 

TJ     4) 

LABOR   AND   TRANSPORTATION. 

3^ 

sj    O    O 

2* -a 

i 

8>j£ 

1 

•s 

1 

a 

•2 -a  5 

<< 

Of 

p 

H 

£"£ 

Transportation   by    same,   between    same 

pr.  bush 

OS 

Transportation  by  batteaux  on  James  River 

and   Kanawha  Canal   from  Lynchburg 

pr.  bush, 
pr.  cwt. 

23 

Transportation  by  same,  of  grain 

10 

Note. — "Where  farmers  cannot  procure  the  necessary  nails  for  baling  foiage,  government  to 
furnish  the  same  at  cost;  which  will  be  deducted  from  the  established  price  for  baling. 

Note. — In  addition  to  the  established  price  of  transportation,  the  government  to  pay  all 
legal  tolls. 

The  above  are  approved  as  maximum  rates,  not  to  be  exceeded  in  contract,  iind  on  which 
when  necessary,  impressment  is  authorized,  as  more  fully  stated  in  written  power  given  the 
Quartermaster  General. 

(Signed,)  J.  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 
December  26,1862. 


REPLY  OF  L.  B.  NORTHROP,  COMMISSARY  GENERAL, 
TO  A  RESOLUTION  OF  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 
ENCLOSES  SCHEDULES  OF  PRICES  OF  SUBSISTENCE, 
&C,  AS  ESTABLISHED  BY  HIS  BUREAU;  ALSO  VA- 
RIOUS PAPERS  BEARING   ON  THIS  SUBJECT. 


Subsistence  Bureau,      ) 
Richmond,  January  26th,  1862.  > 

Hon.  James  A.  Seddon,  Secretary  of  War  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  from  you  of  a 
letter  from  the  President,  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  resolution  passed  by 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  15th  inst.,  with  an  endorsement 
from  you,  directing  me  to  "  furnish  you  the  copy  of  the  order  to  my 
Bureau,  to  be  transmitted  with  any  report  or  remarks  I  think  appro- 
priate." 

I  enclose  herewith  a  copy  of  the  schedules  of  prices  of  subsistence 
stores  and  labor  and  transportation  established  by  you,  together  with 
your  letter  of  instructions  to  me  in  regard  thereto. 

I  do  not  desire  to  make  on  this  subject  any  new  report,  but  I  beg 
leave  to  submit  a  copy  of  my  letter  prepared  for  the  purpose  of  being 
sent  to  every  officer  and  agent  of  this  bureau  upon  whom,  in  pur- 
suance of  the  authority  vested  in  me  by  you,  I  have  had  conferred 
the  power  of  impressment,  and  also  a  copy  of  the  report  made  by  this 
bureau  to  you  on  the  subject  of  impressment  orginally. 

Nothing  that  could  now  be  said  on  the  subject  would  be  any  more 
than  an  amplefication  of  the  views  therein  expressed,  which  is  su- 
perfluous, and  everything,  which  has  occurred  since,  satisfies  me  the 
mere  of  the  soundnes  of  the  views  therein  presented. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

L.  B.  NORTHROP, 
Commissary  General,  C.  S.  A. 


War  Department,  > 

Richmond,  Dec.  29th,  1862.  ] 

Col.  L.  B.  Northrop, 

Commissary    General,  C.  S.  A.  .* 
Sir  :  You  are  hereby  authorized  to  impress  subsistence  stores,  labor 
and  transportation,  (except  that  belonging  to  railroad  companies  and 


8 

government  contractors,)   when  you  shall  think  it  necessary  to  the 
public  service. 

This  power  may  be  conferred  by  you  upon  your  purchsing  officers 
and  agents,  which  officers  may  in  turn  confer  similar  powers  upon 
such  subordinates  as  you  shall  approve. 

All  subsistence  stores,  labor  and  transportation  impressed  will  be 
paid  for  at  resonable  prices  not  exceeding  in  any  case,  rates  ordered 
from  time  to  time  by  the  Secretary  of  War,'and  communicated  to,you. 
Until  otherwise  ordered  these  prices  will  be  those  fixed  by  the  en- 
closed schedule.  And  officers  and  agents  must  be  specially  instructed 
to  give  to  the  owners  thereof  receipts,  stating  distinctly  the  descrip- 
tion, quantity,  quality  and  price  of  the  subsistence  stores  or  the  kind, 
rate  of  hire  and  time  employed,  of-  the  labor  and  transportation  im- 
pressed, and  designating  the  officer  by  whom  payment  for  the  same 
will  be  made,  who,  in  case  he  has  no  funds  on  hand,  shall  give  a  cer- 
tificate which  will  enable  the  party  to  obtain  payment,  from  the  near- 
est disbursing  officer  of  your  bureau. 

It  shall  further  be  the  duty  of  the  officer  or  agent  impressing  as 
aforesaid,  to  leave  to  each  person  whose,  property  is  impressed,  a 
sufficiency  of  supplies  for  the  use  of  his  family  and  plantation  ;  and 
in  impressing  to  take  in  preference  subsistence  stores  belonging  to 
speculators. 

The  officer  or  agent  impressing  shall,  in  all  cases,  exhibit  his  writ- 
ten authority  to  impress  to  the  party  or  parties  interested,  or  to  his 
or  their  agent,  and  no  impressment  shall  be  made,  (unless  hereafter 
ordered  by  the  Secretary'of  War,  or  under  pressing  necessity  specially 
ordered  by  generals  commanding  armies  in  the  field,)  except  by 
officers  and  agents  authorized  as  abpve,  and  by  them  only,  in  confor- 
mity to  orders;  and  any  one  acting  without  or  beyond  authority  in 
the  above  will  be  held  strictly  Responsible. 

It  is  not  intended  that  the  prices  of  the  enclosed  schedule  shall  be 
paid  in*  all  cases.  When  the  prices  of  one  or  more  of  these  articles 
in  any  localty  shall  rule  as  high  or  higher  than  those  fixed  in  the 
schedule,  then  the  prices  are  to  be  paid  as  a  maximum  for  each  stan- 
dard article  in  its  class  ;  prices  of  inferior  grades  to  rule  downwards 
proportionally.  But  in  all  cases  where  prices  are  lower  than  those 
fixed  in  the  accompanying  schedule,  then  purchases  must  be  made  at 
current  rates. 

All  officers  and  agents,  acting  under  this  order,  shall  be  furnished 
with  a  copy  of  it,  and  shall  be  instructed  to  conform  strictly.to  its 
limitations. 

You  will  see  that  a  minute  and  accurate  report  of  all  impressments 
made  by  the  officers  and  agents  of  your  bureau  be  made  to  your  office, 
and  a  record  thereof  be  kept. 

(Signed)  JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 


Later. — The  instruction  was  given  orally  to  both  the  quartermas- 
ter General  and  the  Commissary  General  that  their  officers  should  be 


authorized  in  all  cases  to  express,  whenever  desired  by  the  parties,  in 
the  receipt  taken  from  them  that  they  were  not  meant  to  be  precluded 
from  further  demands  on  the  government  for  additional  compensation, 

should  Cogress  allow  it. 

•      *  JAMES  A.  SEDDON. 

Secretary  of  War. 

War  Depatment,  > 


Jan.  28,  1863. 


Subsistence  Bureau,      > 
Richmond,  Ya.  S 


Sir  :  In  pursuance  of  the  authority  conferred  upon  me  by  the 
Hon.  Secretary  of  War,  you  are  hereby  empowered  to  impress  any 
and  all  subsistence  stores,  labor  an>d  transportation,  whenever,  in  your 
judgment,  the  necessities  of  the  service  require  it. 

In  all  cases  you  will  conform  strictly  to  the  limitations  and  require- 
ments of  the  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  me,  a  true  copy  of 
which,  together  with  the  schedule  of  prices  therein  referred  to,  is  an- 
nexed thereto  for  your  information. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  desired  that  in  all  impressments  which  it  may  be 
necessary  to  resort  to,  you  should  act  with  the  "greatest  lenity  and 
forbearance  consistent  with  the  end,"  and  with  the  utmost  prudence 
and  discretion.  If  such  impressments  should  be  resisted,  I  will  ob- 
tain from  the  Secretary  of  War  an  order  on  the  nearest  commanding 
officer  of  a  post,  for  a  force  sufficient  to  repress  resistance.  This  I 
hope,  however,  will  not  be  necessary  in  any  case.  You  will  make, 
monthly,  an  accurate  and  minute  report  of  all  impressments  made  by 
you,  setting  forth  the .  description,  quality,  quantity  and  price  of  the 
subsistence  stores,  and  the  kind,  rate  of  hire  and  time  employed,  of 
the  labor  and  transportation  impressed,  and  the  name  of  the  officer 
designated  by  you  to  make  payment,  together  with  all  the  circum- 
stances attending  your  action  in  the  premises.  If  it  should  be 
necessary  that  you  should  act,  in  making  impressments,  through  your 
subordinates  and  agents,  you  will  be  extremely  careful  in  your  selec- 
tion of  such  persons,  and  bear  in  mind  that  they  are  your  agents 
solely  in  that  regard,  and  that  what  is  done  £y  them  is  done  by  you, 
and  you  will  be  held  to  responsibility  for  their  acts. 
Yery  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Official  copy,)  L.  B.  NORTHROP.      . 

Commissary  General. 


Confederate  States  of  America,  } 

Subsistence  Department,      > 

Richmond,  Ya,,  January  28,  1863.  ) 

To  Hon.  J.  A.  Sebvox  ^Secretary  of  War,  Richmond,  Va  : 

Sir  :     In  compliance  with  the  directions  from  you,  I  have  the  honor 
to  submit  herewith  the  report  of   Major  Robert  Tannahill,  C.   S.  of 


10 

subsistence  stores  impressed  by  him,  at  Petersburg,  Va  ,  in  the  month 
of  January,  1863,  in  accordance  with  instructions  from  you,  accom- 
panying schedule  of  prices.  And,  also,  a  report  from  Captain  John 
M.  Gait,  C.  S.  at  Lynchburg,  Va.,  on  the  same  matter. 

I  will  add  that  these  stores   are   absolutely  necessary  for  the  sub- 
sistence of  the  army  in  Virginia. 

This  letter  and  the  enclosed  reports   are  in   connection   with  my 
letter  to  you  of  the  6th  ult.,  covering  a  report  on  impressments. 
Very  respectfully',  your  obedient  servant, 

L.  B.  NORTHROP, 
Commissary  General. 


The  following  report  on  the  subject  of  fixing  the  prices  of  articles 
needed  by  the  Bureau  of  Subsistence,  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  according  to  instructions  from  his  department : 

As  it  was  ordered  in  consequence  of  representations  of  its  neces- 
sity made  by  this  bureau,  it  is  proper  to  state  here  that  that  necessity 
originates  not  only  in  the  exhorbitant  prices  of  particular  articles, 
but  in  the  unwillingness  in  most  cases,  and  the  refusal  in  some,  of 
parties  owning  commissary  stores,  or  the  raw  material  thereof,  to 
sell  them  at  any  price.  This  proceeds  from  two  causes ;  first,  from 
the  depreciation  of  the  currency,  whereby  sellers  are  indisposed  to 
receive  payment  in  a  medium  whose  value  is  unfixed  and  fluctuating, 
and  may  expose  them  to  loss ;  and,  secondly,  from  the  competition  of 
speculators,  whose  wide- spread  operations  have  fevered  all  markets 
and  infected  all  classes  of  producers.  Thus,  for  example,  wheat, 
though  existing  in  large  quantities  in  the  upper  valley  of  Virginia, 
cannot  be  bought  there  at  the  price  of  three  dollars  per  bushel ;  and 
the  same  article  is  worth  more  in  Lynchburg  and  Petersburg  than  in 
Richmond ;  considerable  quantities  having  been  shipped  from  this 
place  to  Petersburg  by  rail.  And  this  is  only  an  instance  of  a  rate 
of  prices  or  demanded  prices  which  pervades  all  classes    of  supplies. 

If  this  state  of  things  is  permitted  to  continue,  the  army  cannot  be 
fed ;  and  under  its  present  influence  an  alarming  check  has  been 
given  to  accumulations.*  But  if  the  system  proposed  in  this  paper 
is  allowed  to  go  into  operation,  there  is  every  prospect  that  in  articles 
which  exist  in  sufficient  quantity,  enough  can  be  got  to  enable  the 
government  to  settle  prices  in  that  particular  commodity  and  to  that 
extent  to  relieve  all  classes  by  controlling  speculation. 

The  task  of  fixing  prices  is  very  difficult,  though  it  is  not  deemed 
impossible.  To  a  certain  extent,  too,  the  system  is  necessarily  arbi- 
trary, and  cannot  be  expected  to  work  as  smoothly  as  when  supply 
and  demand  can  have  their  usual  influence.  But  it  is  hoped  that  if 
attempted  on  correct  principles,  it  will  be  cheerfully  supported  by  all 
good  men  as  the  best,  if  not  the  only  means  £f  feeding  our  armies, 
and  indirectly  of  relieving  private  necessities,  and  as  the  first  effec- 
tive blow  at  the  speculation  which  now  threatens  ruin  to  our  cause. 


il 

The  full  success  of  the  system  depends  on  its  universality,  and 
this  bureau  hopes  it  will  not  be  deemed  officious  to  suggest  the  appli- 
cation of  the  system  to  all  other  purchasing  departments  of  the 
government.  No  article  of  subsistence  has  been  omitted,  lest  some 
one  should  be  thought  to  be  favored  and  clamor  should  make  it  the 
ground  of  complaint,  and  the  difficulties  that  have  been  surmounted 
in  the  scheme  submitted  in  this  'report,  guarantee  that  none  are  in- 
surmountable in  any  other  bureau. 

The  scheme  suggested  comprises  four  classes  of  articles  to  be  priced. 

1st.  Those  produced  indifferently  in  all  the  States.  (See  schedule  A.) 

2d.  Those  produced  in  only  one  or  two  States.     (See  schedule  B.) 

3d.  Those  that  can  only  be  had  by  running  the  blockade.  (See 
schedule  C.) 

4th.  Manufactured  articles,  the  product  of  one  or  all  the  States.  (See 
schedule  D.) 

As  to  prices  of  each,  the  cost  of  production  and  a  certain  moderate 
profit  thereon  would  be  the  fairest  measure  of  price  where  trade  is  un- 
obstructed. But  this  being  unattainable  with  absolute  precision,  a 
practical  result,  which  should  be  satisfactory,  can  be  reached  by  the 
average  prices  of  a  resonably  antecedent  period  at  leading  marts. 
Those  prices,  enhanced  by  such  an  increase  as  may  be  required  by  the 
deprecation  of  the  currency  and  by  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  supplies, 
should  be  the  measure  of  the  new  price,  and  any  general  injustice 
likely  to  be  done  a  particular  State  or  section  under  this  rule,  should 
be  covered  by  the  liberality  for  the  general  advance. 

It  being  impossible,  for  want  of  data,  to  ascertain  general  prices  at 
the  leading  marts  of  the  Confederacy,  the  prices  of  the  city  of  Rich- 
mond, which  were  within  easy  reach  and  of  definite  ascertainment, 
have  been  assured  as  to  all  articles  except  those  embraced  in  class  2d. 
As  this  city  is  near  the  seaboard,  and  ha3  always  afforded  a  larger 
general  demand  for  articles  of  subsistence  than  any  other  Confederate 
city,  except  New  Orleans,  it  is  not  presumed  that  it  will  work  any,  or 
at  least  great,  injustice  elsewhere  as  to  those  articles  whose  prices  its 
prices  are  invoked  to  rule.    * 

The  antecedent  period,  selected  as  the  basis  of  estimate,  is  the  period 
of  five  years  next  preceding  the  war;  and  it  is  believed  that  the  prices 
of  leading  staples  ruled  higher  in  the  similar  period  behind  it. 

The  depreciation  of  currency  which,  of  course,  carries  the  question 
of  increased  cost  of  productions,  is  assumed  at  50  per  cent.,  which  is 
somewhat  under  the  rank.  But  it  is  believed  that  the  excess  of  circu- 
lation is  on  the  eve  of  being  retired,  and  if  such  be  the  fact,  the 
prices  will  soon  be  as  much  above  as  they  are  now  below  a  fair  rate 
of  compensation.  The  articles  in  schedule  A,  have  no  special  claim 
to  more  than  the  assumed  average  prices  of  the  same  articles  for  the 
five  years  next  preceding  the  war,  enhanced  by  the  depreciation  of  cur- 
rency ;  and  hence  prices  are  fixed  on  them  at  an  advance  of  one  hun- 
dred per  cent.,  except  in  one  or  two  cases  of  scarcity,  where  a  greater 
per  centage  has  been  allowed,  subject  to  the  usual  deduction  of  costs 
and  charges  from  the  point  of  delivery  to  their  nearest  market. 
More  than  that  need  not  be  offered  since  the  people  at  large,  except  in 


12 

invaded  districts,  are  not  in  pecuniary  distress  ;  in  fact,  are  hoarding 
produce  in  some  places  as  an  investment  or  speculation,  and  the  invaded 
districts  have  now  unfortunately  nothing,  or  next  nothing,  to  sell. 
This  disposes  of  the  far  larger  class  of  articles  involved  in  the  whole 
scheme. 

The  few  articles  embraced  in  the  three  remainining  schedules  come 
under  the  operation  of  special  reasons  for  greater  advance.  Schedule 
B,  embraces  sugar  molasses  and  rice.  Of  these,  sugar  and  molasses 
are  treated  as  one  for  the  purposes  of  this  scheme.  When  these  are 
delivered  "West  of  the  Mississippi  at  a  landing  from  which  the  blockade 
can  be  run,  the  price  is  advanced  only  one  hundred  per  cent,  on  the 
usual  rates,  (which  are  assumed  at  a  sufficient  figure,)  because  the 
government  will  have  taken  from  the  planters  door  an  article  which  he 
has  raised  in  excess  of  his  wants,  which  is  in  danger  of  capture,  and 
which  is  undertaken  to  be  secured  by  the  Government  at  his  own 
risk.  But  when  they  are  delivered  on  this  side  of  the  Mississippi,  an 
advance  of  250  per  cent,  is  allowed,  that  being  equivalent. to  an  offer 
of  150  per  cent,  to  parties  who  will  agree  to  run  the  blockade  success- 
fully.     . 

Rice,  though  the  product  of  only  one  or  two  States,  is  yet  made 
entirely  within  our  limits  in  sufficient  quantities.  Its  price  is  fixed 
at  100  per  cent,  on  its  cost  in  Charleston  and  Savannah,  and  100  per 
cent,  on  its  value  in  Richmond.  Upon  an  average  of  the  last  five  years, 
is  the  price  fixed  at  all  other  places.  It  is  difficult  to  fix  it  on  a  more 
satisfactory  basis,  but  that  is  the  best  that  can  be  done. 

The  basis  of  price  for  articles  that  can  only  be  obtained  at  all,  or 
in  sufficient  quantity,  by  running  the  coast  blockade,  and  which  are 
embraced  in  schedule  C,  is  fixed  upon  the  same  principle  as  in 
schedule  A.  They  comprise  salt,  tea  and  coffee.  These  can  only  be 
tempted  to  us  by  very  large  inducements.  Salt  being  the  bulkiest, 
has,  therefore,  been  fixed  at  an  advance  of  900  per  cent,  since  this  is 
higher  than  most  illicit  importations  in  the  world.  Coffee,  the  next 
bulkiest,  has  been  fixed  at  an  advance  of  733  per  cent.,  and  tea,  the 
lightest,  at  an  advance  of  4,333  per  cent.  These  advances  have 
been  offered  as  those  which  it  is  thought  will  bring  them  in  if  any 
can. 

The  basis  of  prices  for  articles  in  schedule  D,  or  manufactured 
articles,  is  fixed  on  the  same  principle  as  the  above  ;  but  the  advance 
is  graded  higher  than  on  articles  in  schedule  A,  for  special  reasons. 
Thus,  soap  is  not  made  in  sufficient  quantity  within  the  limits  of  the 
Confederacy,  and  both  it  and  some  of  the  ingredients  of  its  manufac- 
ture on  a  large  scale  must  be  imported  from  beyond  our  lines. 
Candles  are  also  manufactured  in  insufficient  supply,  and  must  run 
the  blockade  to  afford  a  sufficiency  ;  but  at  a  lower  premium  of  ad- 
vance than  in  schedule  C,  since  they  are  in  most  cases  rather  a  con- 
venience than  a  necessity.  Vinegar,  though  a  domestic  article  and 
easily  made,  is  manfactured  on  a  small  scale  wherever  undertaken, 
and  therefore  is  thought  entitled  to  a  greater  advance  than  an  ordi- 
nary product.  Whiskey,  also  a  manufactured  article,  is  put  at  a  very 
high  advance  because  its  price  was  fixed  some  time  age  by  contracts, 


13 

■with,  this  bureau,  which  the  reluctance  of  all  our  legislatures  made  it 
difficult  to  get  it,  and  the  adulterations  of  the  article  have  made  its 
manufacture  a  matter  of  confidential  trust.  This  completes  the  enu- 
meration of  articles  and  their  prices,  which  will  be  found  tabulated  at 
the  foot  of  this  report  in  different  schedules  with  the  basis  of  price 
and  the  advance  thereon  stated  in  separated  columns. 

The  above  prices  are  not  proposed  to  be  paid  indiscriminately  for 
all  grades  of  articles,  but  as  a  maximum  for  each  in  its  class,  to  be 
regulated  in  each  purchase  or  seizure  according  to  the  quality  of  the 
article.  But  it  is  proposed  that  no  less  sum  than  that  fixed  upon 
shall  be  given  for  any  standard  article.  Since  it  is  assumed  as  a  fair 
price,  it  ought  always  to  be  paid  in  full,  as  in  quality,  except  when  a 
portion  of  it  may  be  withheld  as  a  penalty.  To  render  the  plan  ope- 
rative, it  will  be  necessary  to  instruct  the  purchasing  officers  and 
agents  of  this  bureau,  and  those  who  are  under  orders  to  different 
commanders  in  the  field,  to  offer  to  purchase  under  the  above  princi- 
ples and  rules  distinctly  announced  to  them ;  and  further,  when  parties 
refuse  to  sell  and  deliver  upon  such  offers,  and  becomes,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  Commissary  General,  or  of  the  respective  commanders  in  the 
field,  necessary  to  take  them,  then  take  them  by  military  force  if  ne» 
cessary,  using  parties  own  means  of  transportation,  and  paying  said 
parties  twenty-five  per  cent,  less  than  the  schedule  price  as  in  quality. 
But  when  the  party  has  no  transportation,  then  it  shall  be  delivered 
by  transportation  obtained  from  the  nearest  quartermaster ;  and  if 
none  such  be  convenient,  then  by  hired  transportation,  which,  at  the 
general  cost  of  government  transportation,  shall  be  deducted  from  the 
article  so  obtained ;  and  which  article,  if  it  shall  have  been  seized  as 
above,  shall  be  further  docked  twenty-five  per  cent,  in  prices,  as  in 
the  above  stated  case  of  refusal  to  sell  ami  deliver.  The  said  officers 
and  agents  should  be  further  instructed  to  exhaust  all  supplies  of  their 
kind  now  in  the  hands  of  those  whom  they  shall  have  reason  to  sus- 
pect as  speculators,  before  resorting  to  those  that  are  in  first  hands. 
This  will  be  not  only  justice,  but  it  will  go  far  to  reconcile  the  body 
of  the  people  to  any  rigor  which  they  may  anticipate  in  their  own  in- 
dividual cases. 

In  conclusion,  it  is  proper  to  repeat,  with  emphasis  what  was  said  in 
the  commencement  of  this  report ;  if  this  or  some  system  of  impress- 
ment is  not  speedily  adopted,  our  armies  cannot  be  fed.  Nearly  all 
supplies  are  now  in  the  hands  of  extortioners  or  speculators,  and 
every  day  brings  letters  complaining  of  the  impossibility  of  getting 
them  in  consequence  of  daily  increasing  exactions  on  the  part  of  hol- 
ders. 

Very  respectfully, 

(Signed)  FRANK  G.  RUFFIN, 

Major  and  Commissary  Subsistence. 

(Signed)     James  R.  Crenshaw. 


14 


GOVERNMENT  PRICES   OF  SUBSISTENCE  STORES. 


Wheat 

Flour 

Shelled  corn 

Un  helled  com. 

Corn  meal 

Hogs 

Bacon 

pi  rk 

9;Lard 


Fresh  beef 

Salt  or  cornel  beef. 

Pea.- 

Beans  

Potatoes 


Prime. 

Good. 

Prime. 

tt 

Good. 

Fair. 

Good. 


Fair. 
Good. 


Onions 

Dried  peaches. 


Dried  apples. 

Rye 

Hay,  baled... 
Hay,  unbaled. 
Sheaf  oats.... 


Blade  fodder. 


Sugar,  trans  Miss... 

Sugar  eis  Miss 

Molasses,  trans  Miss. 
Molas-es,  cis  Miss... 
Rice,State  where  pro. 
Rice  in  other  States. 

Salt 

Coffee , 

Tea  

Soap  

Candles 

Vinegar 

r  by  contract- 
Whiskey  in  G  r  :ii. 
Whiskey  in  Virginia. 
Pasturage  Epr  cattle. 


White. 

Superfine. 
White. 


Sides  or  hog  rd 
Cattle. 


Irish. 
Sweet. 


Peeled. 
Unpeoled. 


Clov'rorthno1 

a       tt        a 

Baled, 

Unbaled. 

Baled. 

Unbaled. 

Raw. 
a 

New  Orleans. 


Liverpool. 

Rio. 

Trade. 


Tallow. 
Cider. 

Manufactured. 
Trade. 


Interior. 

Near  large  cities 


Per  bushel  of  60  lbs 
"  barrel  of  196  ft 
"  bushel  of  56    " 

tt         (•  tt     a      a 

"       «        "50     " 

"  hundred,  nett, 
"  pound. 


"       gross, 
bushel  of  60  lbs 


o  tc 


z^ 


bushel. 


"   38 

a     a 


tt        a  28    " 

tt         a    5g    a 

hundred  pounds 


gallon. 
ti 

pound. 

sack  of  3  bushel; 
pound. 


gallon. 


**  head  per  month. 


8  00    118| 
85  (136 


95  132 
9  25  170 
in1.  240 
]()'.  240 
in  200 
0  t.}  135 


I. 

CO  u 


2$ 


1  30 

100 

1  30 

100 

80 

150 

1  25 

150 

1  00 

400 

4  00 

100 

2  25 

100 

75 

166J 

80 

100 

1  20 

108 

1  10 

100 

1  20 

10S 

1  10 

100 

1  20 

108 

1  10 

100 

6  00 

100 

8  00 

250 

27* 

100 

35 

250 

03 

100 

05 

100 

1  50 

900 

12 

7;;.:  \ 

75 

433* 

04* 

350  say 

12+ 

300 

20 

150 

12 

100  say 

25 

500  bycon. 

a      a 

1  50 

100 

3  00 

100 

S3  50 

17  50 

2  00 

1  95 

2  20 
25  00 

35 

35 

30 

10 

25 

60 

60 

00 

12* 

00 

00 

50 

00 

60 

50 

20 

50 

20 

50 


2  20 

12  00 

2S  00 

55 

87* 

06 

10 

15  00 

1  00 

4  00 

20 

50 

50 

25 

1  50 

2  00 

3  00 
6  00 


Note. — The  above  are  the  maximum  prices  to  be  paid  for  the  above  article* at  all  cities  and 
usual  places  of  sale,  and  when  bought  or  impressed  elsewhere,  tho  same  prices  are  to  be  paid 
elsewhere,  less  the  cost  of  transportation  to  the  city  or  usual  place  of  sale  to  which  the  article 
would  go  ordidarily  for  sale  from  \hat  neighborhood,  or  less  tho  cost  of  transportation  to  the 
point  at  which  the  government  needs  the  article  and  wishes  it  to  be  sent :  Provided,  That  in 
no  case  the  amount  deducted  for  transportation  as  above,  shall  exceed  twenty-live  cents  per 
bushel  for   corn,  and   twenty-five  cents  per  load  for  long  forage. 

Approved  as  the  maximum  rates  for  purchases,  and  if  necessary,  impressment. 

(Signed,)  J.  A.  SEDDON, 

t  Secretary  of  War. 


15 


SCHEDULE  B. 

LABOR  AND  TRANSPORTATION. 


LABOR  AND  TRANSPORTATION.' 


Raring  long  forage PerlOOlbs 

Celling  and  bagging  corn,  sacks    furnished 

by  the  government Per  56  lbg 

Jfau?n« •. Percwt 

[iro    AgrT i Per  bushel. 

iiire  of  two  horse  team,  wagon  and   driver, i 

rations  furnished  by  the  government 

Hire  of  samo,  rations  furnished  by  the  owner 

Hire  of  four   horse  team,  wagon  and  driver"1'" 

rations  furnished  by  owner 

Hire  of  same,  rations  furnished  bvcovern-  

ment 

Hire  of  six 


Per  mile, 


ot3  2 


pr  day. 


horse   team,  wagon   and   driver, 

rations  furnished  by  the  owner 

lire  of  same,  rations  furnished  by  govern- 


ment. 


Hire  of  laborer,  rations  furnished  by  owner.'. 
Hire  of  same,  rations  furnished  by  govern- 
ment  


Hire  of  same,  rations  furnished  by  the' owner-  

Hire  of  same,  rations  furnished  by  the  eoy- 

ernment \ I 

River  transportation  by  batteaux '.'.'. !.'.".'. ....'.'.'.  Pe'r'cwt" 
"  "  I ' 


$     30 

05 
04 
02 


grain. 


tanal  transportation  between  Lynchburg  and 

Kichmond  and  intermediate  points Per  cwt 

Same  between  above  points  for  grain Per  bushel 

Same  from   Buchanan   and   Lexington   and 

other  points  above  Lynchburg  to  Richmond.  Per  cwt 

baine  between  above  points  for  grain Per  bushel 

i>ame  between  Buchanan  and  Lexington  and 

Lynchburg  and  intermediate  points Percwt 

Same  between  above  points  for  grain Per  bushel 

transportation  bybatteaux  on  tributaries  of 
James  River  from  highest  point  of  naviga- 
tion on  same,  and  all  intermediate  points 

to  James  River  and  Kanawha  canal IPer  cwt 

Transportation  by  same  between  same  points) 

mSSJES^-'V-T Per  bushel. 

transportation  by  batteaux  on  James  River 
and  Kanawha  canal  from  Lynchburg  and' 

intermediate  points  to  Richmond per  cwt 

Transportation  by  same  of  grain Per  bushel 


pr  mo, 


for  20  miles  and  under 
over  20  and  under  30  m. 
30  and  under  50  miles, 
50  miles  and  over, 
for  20  miles  and  under 
over  20  and  under  30  m, 
30  and  under  50  miles, 
50  miles  and  over, 


8  00 

4  00 

10  00 


1  00 
30  00 

20  00 
25 
35 
45 
50 
11 
16 
20 
23 

25 
10 

35 
16 

10 
06 


25 

08 


™°lEVTWhei'e  farmers  caa°ot  procure  the  necessary  nails  for  bailing  forage 
rnish  the  same  at  r.nsf-  wMni,  ™;n  k-  ,i„.j.._i._.i  /•_.  _/ J  ....    '.6  rorago, 


2:, 
10 


furnish  the  same  at  cost;  which  will  be  deducted  from  the 


established  price  for  bailing. 


government  to 


^l°TtoilIIn  additionto  the  established  price  of  transportation;  the  government  to 


pay  all 


16 


Report  of  Subsistence  Stores  impressed  by  Major  Robt.    TannahiU,  C.  S., 
at  Petersburg,  Va.,  in  the  month  of  January,  1863. 


From   whom   impressed. 


>=-  ? 


PE| 


ins  Johnson , 

Brownley,  Green  &  Co.,. 
C.  A.  Kevan  &  Brother.. 



Elaine 



Afcllwaine,  - 
Don  nans  &  John.-- 

ra 

Davis,  K  per  <t  C 

II.  B.  Jeter 


2.S42 
550 

2,400 
300 
LSS 

1,500 
308 

1,400 
300 
100 


9,883 


2,509 


17  50 


35 


$49,735  00 

9,625  00 

42,000  00 

..()  00 

26,250  00 

24,500  00 

5,250  00 

1.750  00 

898  L5 


2,509   $173,851  65 


Note. — The  one  thousand  five  hundred  barrels  flour  included  in  above  statement,  in  name  of 
d  on  account  of  Mr.  Schlej-,  of   Georgia,  to  which   you  made   reference  in  a 
letter  some  days  since.  t 

ROBT.  TANNAHILL,  Major,  <fcc. 


A  Statement  of  Subsistence  Stores  impressed  by  qpder  of  the   commanding 
General,  C.  S.  A.,  from  Januarys,  1863,  to  January  24,  1863. 


From  whom  impressed. 

Article. 

Quantity. 

Remarks. 

McDaniel  &  Irby 

A.  J.  Camp  ,fc  Co., 

Rice. 

Flour. 

a 

u 

a 
(i 
tt 

tt 
It 
ft 

tt 

Candles. 
Whiskey. 

tt 

Vinegar. 
Salted  pork. 
tt          tt 

Bacon. 
Wheat. 

13,330  pounds. 
87  bb's.  sup. 
82     " 
40  •  «       « 
110     «       " 
92     «       " 
3     "    fine. 
700     "     sup. 
783     «      " 
168    "      " 
0 1 2    "      « 
99     u       t( 
2.000     «       « 

200     "  mid'gs. 
3,705  pounds. 
126  barrels. 

8       « 

3       " 
500,000  pounds. 
200,000       " 
2,171       « 
12,176       " 
7,000  bushels. 

A,  B.  Rucker 

u 

Ro.  W.  Crenshaw 

McDaiiel  &  lrby 

Bonduraht<£  Matthias. 
Lee,  Rocke  <fe  Taylor.. 

Rucker  &  Hamner 

Langhorno  &  Scott 

it                                   ti 

Lee,  Rocke  &  Taylor.. 
McDaniel  &  Irby 

81  lbs.  belonging  to  refugees,  released 
by  order  of  commanding  General. 

Col.  W.  B   Brown 

W.  M.  Shnmaker 

McVeigh, Howard  &  Co 

McCorkle.  Son  <fc  Co... 
From  different  parties. 

Salted  by  him  for  other  parties. 
n      a      n     tt      tt          a 

Impressed  from  different  parties. 

My  agents  in  the  surrounding  country  have  not  made  returns  as  yet,  the  above  impressments 
were  made  in  the  city,  by 

Capt.  JNO.  A.  GALT,  C.  S.,  at  Lynchburg,  Va. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


